The summer season of Jaylen Brown: Celtics star feedback on Workforce USA, Banner 18, and extra

LAS VEGAS — It’s been fairly the summer season for Jaylen Brown. Relationship again to the tip of Might, it appears as if each trophy possible has ended up in his palms. From the Larry Chicken Jap Convention finals MVP to the NBA Invoice Russell Finals MVP to the Larry O’Brien to an ESPY for finest championship efficiency. Every thing has been developing Brown.

And whereas he’s nonetheless having fun with each championship second doable, that bliss can solely final so lengthy.

“Undoubtedly nonetheless driving the excessive,” Brown stated on the Boston Celtics’ Summer time League recreation in opposition to the Los Angeles Lakers. “It’s been an ideal summer season. That feeling of lastly getting over that hump is nice. However now, it’s form of coming to an finish. It’s like everyone’s beginning again at floor zero. So, it’s nearly forgotten about, and now, we simply obtained to construct from Day 1 once more.”

Earlier in the summertime, Jayson Tatum spoke concerning the weight of successful a title being off his shoulders. That feeling is shared by his co-star, however once more, subsequent season is absolutely in sight.

“Sure, I do,” Brown stated when requested if he felt the identical. “However proper when that burden will get alleviated, you get extra motivation to comply with it. So, for me, it’s again to floor one. My mindset is nearly like, championship is over now, and now we obtained to get again to work.”

Brown and Tatum led the Celtics to their first championship in 16 years in June, however now, 18 has come and gone. Banner 19 is the brand new aim. And the whole lot Boston has performed this summer season has set themselves up for stated quest.

Tatum and Derrick White each inked profitable extensions that may maintain them carrying inexperienced for years to come back, and Jrue Vacation obtained his new deal performed proper earlier than the 2024 playoffs. Brown and Kristaps Porzingis signed extensions final offseason, and Horford continues to be driving out a brand new contract he signed in December of 2022.

However Boston’s dedication to conserving their core intact goes properly past the highest six.

The Celtics re-signed Neemias Queta, Luke Kornet, and Xavier Tillman to new contracts this summer season. Additionally they introduced again JD Davison and Drew Peterson on new two-way contracts. In complete, 15 of the 17 gamers who ended final yr with Boston might be again once more subsequent season.

Photograph by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

Brown stated the remainder of his summer season might be spent reaching out to teammates, understanding, and getting ready to run it again subsequent season.

“Yeah, simply proceed to work. Simply verify in with the blokes and see what their schedules are, their availabilities are,” Brown stated. “I’ve already talked to Al [Horford] and talked to a number of the guys to see after they’ll get again within the health club. I feel subsequent I’ll most likely be at Payton [Pritchard]’s wedding ceremony.

“However simply proceed to do what we [have] all the time been doing, construct an ideal tradition, nice power, nice chemistry amongst our group. We obtained a particular quantity of fellows, and we’re working it again this yr. So trying ahead to it.”

Nevertheless, as Brown stuffed his trophy case, one honor was not granted to him—a spot on the 2024 Workforce USA Olympic group.

When Kawhi Leonard was faraway from the roster, White, Brown’s very personal Celtics teammate, was named because the substitute.

Instantly, Brown tweeted out emojis that hinted at his displeasure with being left off the group. Some speculated that he might be throwing shade at White, however that couldn’t be farther from the reality.

“I wasn’t shocked, however my response was [that] I was completely satisfied for D-White,” Brown stated of the snub. “It’s dope to have so [many] of our guys on there. So, I used to be completely satisfied for these guys, however I wasn’t shocked.”

The truth is, Brown made certain to succeed in out to White after the announcement was made.

“Completely. I known as Derrick straight away,” he stated. “Simply to verify there’s no confusion with my love for [him] and all of that. He knew that. And he did. However you understand, you don’t all the time obtained to make something public. However me and D-White are good.”

Photograph by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE by way of Getty Photos

However whereas he could also be completely satisfied for his teammates, as Tatum and Vacation are additionally on the group, Brown is utilizing the dearth of inclusion as gas.

“Completely. Tremendous fired up,” Brown stated. “I obtained all of the motivation on this planet. I’m boutta enhance, so I liked it. Truthfully.”

Alongside along with his preliminary response, subtweeting the choice to go away him off, Brown additionally despatched a message directed at Nike, whom he felt had a hand in his exclusion.

“I do, for certain. There might be extra stuff to come back with that,” Brown stated on if he felt as if Nike was concerned within the resolution. “However as of now, I’m not going to touch upon it.”

Led by Brown, Boston ended final season on a excessive. Confetti lined the streets from Causeway to Hynes Conference Heart. However they’re hungry for extra.

And because the New York Knicks, with a Mikal Bridges commerce, and Philadelphia 76ers, with the signing of Paul George, are loading as much as contest them within the East, Brown and the Celtics are prepared for the problem.

“Completely. Plenty of groups are getting higher, and it takes loads to have the ability to put the ribbon on high and win the championship,” Brown stated. “So, we simply obtained to take it one recreation at a time. There’s no ensures. There’s no guarantees. So, I’m excited to begin the method, and the method form of begins now. Get again to work. Put that chip again in your shoulder. That very same motivation you had earlier than.

“You join along with your guys. You attempt to construct nice chemistry and nice power, and it takes sacrifice once more for the following yr, and I’m excited to be part of that. All the time have been, all the time might be a group man. And that’s the place I put my foot first.”